Poughkeepsie Day School has a long history of welcoming students from around the globe and has hosted students from China, Brazil, France, Germany, Korea, Vietnam and Spain. The international program at PDS is designed around the school's mission-critical goal of developing educated globally aware citizens. The program exposes international students to education that challenges them academically, integrates them within a creative learning community and ensures that they are well prepared for college.
Poughkeepsie Day School uses a homestay model, where students are placed with a host family. Additionally, host families, students and their families are assigned a program director who provides guidance and assistance before and during the student’s stay at Poughkeepsie Day School.
Poughkeepsie Day School is registered with SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, and is authorized to issue I-20's to international students so that they may acquire an F-1 Visa. In addition to the regular application for admission, international students must submit a bank verified financial statement according to Step 5 in the procedure below.
Application Procedure
(Space is limited for fall 2012)
Step 1 - Application and Fee
Parents may submit an application with the $450 application fee at any time. PDS offers rolling admission, so there is no need to wait to apply. The earlier the application is received by our Director of Admissions, the more likely it is that the student will be admitted.
Step 2 – School Records
Please submit the last two years of grade reports, translated into English, including any standardized or outside testing, evaluation or assessment. Official transcripts from the student's current school are not required at the time of application submission.
Step 3 - Recommendations
Please submit recommendations from the applicant's English and Math teachers as well as a principal recommendation form.
Step 4 - TOEFL Testing Scores
International students are required to take the TOEFL tests as a part of the admission process. Find out more about TOEFL testing (including scheduling a test date).
Step 5 – Confidential Financial Statement
In order to issue an I-20 form, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement requires that all parents of applicants submit proof of their ability to support their child's studies. Download the Confidential Financial Statement Form. This documentation is usually required when applying for an F-1 visa in which case you may submit a copy of the F-1 application instead of the Confidential Financial Statement.
Step 6 - Admission Interview
Once the Admissions Office has received your complete application, you will be contacted to schedule two interviews. International students may schedule an admissions interview via Skype if they are unable to meet in person. Interviews generally take approximately 20 minutes and are an informal, “get-to-know-you” time in which we will also look for English proficiency. The second interview is more focused on academics and seeks to assess student fit with Poughkeepsie Day School.
Step 7 – F-1 Visa Transfer for Students Already in the U.S.
If you are transferring from another school in the U.S. and already have a F-1 Visa, please sign the top portion of the International Student Transfer Form and submit it with your application.
Decisions
Although admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, space is limited for fall 2012. The Admission Committee will mail decisions within two weeks of the interviews.
Questions? Please contact our international program director via e-mail at treilly@poughkeepsieday.org or by phone at 845.462.7600, ext. 202.